Where the Zither Was the Star of the Show

Not too long before Saul Bass took the normal title sequence of names and some sort of backgorund and turned it into something that could set the tone for an entire movie, zither music from a Vienesse musician named Anton Karas and a simple graphic backround of vibrating strings over a oval tone apature provided a tidy, brief introduction to The Third Man.

Today, there’s a salute to it at The Art of the Title.

There’s a curious, almost playful tone set by Karas’s zither music, not just in the title sequence but throughout the whole movie, one that belies the intrigue and immorality of the story.  Almost like the pained sinistry of a carousel horse.

And don’t forget the speech Harry Lime makes:

Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.

Swap That Martini for a Glass of Iced Tea

Pinewood Studios, production home of the James Bond films (and many others), is opening their first US facility located just outside Atlanta.

And maybe Mr. Bond would like a nice slice of pecan pie to go with that.

App Academy: You Don’t Get a Job, We Don’t Get Paid

Sounds like a fair tradeoff to me.  Check out the whole story here.

So how soon before this business model is adapted by universities? 

(h/t:  Instapundit)

Your Sunday Afternoon Dose of Boz Scaggs

Fix yourself a mimosa and enjoy “Harbor Lights,” one of the lovely songs from his album Silk Degrees:

Be Creative. . .Instantly!

With the Creativity pill!  Also available in a series of expensive workshops.

Your Tuesday Dose of Petula Clark

Yes, that Petula Clark, now 80 years old and entertaining us still with this entrancing piece.  Please enjoy Cut Copy Me.

President Obama Visits Kevin Ware